Housing Awards

Virginia Housing Awards

The 2017 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference is November 15-17, in Norfolk, Virginia. Each year, one of the conference's highlights is the Virginia Housing Awards Luncheon, which recognizes innovative, effective efforts that address our housing needs. All awards are presented at the conference during the luncheon on Thursday, November 16. The four award categories for 2017 include:

Best Affordable Housing Development

This award will go to a housing development that is innovative in its concept and design and exceptional in meeting the needs of the targeted client population. Nominations may be for new construction, renovation or adaptive reuse projects. Examples might include housing for senior citizens designed with their needs in mind or an affordable housing development offering low-income persons an opportunity to become first time homeowners.

Best Housing Program or Service

This award will go to a housing program or service that has demonstrated innovative and creative efforts in providing services or assistance to citizens in needing help to meet any aspect of housing needs. Examples might include financial counseling for prospective homeowners or homeless assistance programs to include rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing and emergency shelter.

Best Housing Preservation/Revitalization Effort

This award will go to a housing activity that preserves existing housing or uses housing as a critical component of a broad revitalization effort. Examples might include a housing rehabilitation program that allows residents to remain in their homes while improving the overall conditions of the neighborhood or the development of affordable housing in a structure not previously used for housing that contributes to a revitalization effort.

Inclusive Community Award

This award will go to projects or practices that exemplify intentional efforts to create affordable and inclusive housing opportunities. Projects and policies that result in the expansion of mixed income, accessibility, income integration and inclusiveness in neighborhoods and communities are the focus of this award category. Examples may include a notable effort to bring workforce housing into a community where little currently exists, locality adoption of inclusionary housing policies, projects resulting in a de-concentration of poverty, organizations leading the industry by promoting inclusionary practices, or efforts to provide integrated housing opportunities for special needs populations.